New Ford Taurus X scores on its wagon style points

Ford Motor's (F) Taurus X is a worthy contender in the brutally competitive crossover SUV market.
That's saying something because it's not a new design, yet in features and function it holds up well against recently
launched models.

Taurus X hit the market as a 2005 model, under the name Freestyle. For '08, Ford mechanically modified the vehicle,
cosmetically tweaked it and renamed it Taurus X because the boss, CEO Alan Mulally, thinks people will warm to a vehicle
with the Taurus name as they didn't quite to the Freestyle.

The X in the name is supposed to suggest a four-wheel-drive, SUV version of the Taurus sedan.

The X is based on the Volvo XC90 SUV, though it uses a wholly Ford powertrain. Ford owns Volvo.

Test vehicles were two well-equipped preproduction vehicles and one regular-production model priced about $38,000.
Driving mainly was in the suburbs.

Taurus X has a hunkered-down wagon stance that distinguishes it from the tall silhouette of other crossovers, which is the
designation for SUVs built on car chassis instead of truck frames. Crossovers usually are lighter and more fuel efficient than
truck-based SUVs, and ride and handle better. X's wagon look evokes the safe and solid family feel that came with wagons
of the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

Here's what stood out after several hundred miles:

•Nice drivetrain. The '08's 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic are shared with the Taurus sedan. No more noisy sluggishness
trying to get up steam as was the case in the old 3-liter Freestyle with CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission).

The transmission usually shifted quite well but gave a little shudder or shake now and then at low speeds, suggesting that more
tuning would be useful.

The optional all-wheel-drive system can predict when it should switch out of fuel-saving front-drive mode and begin sending power
to the back, Ford says. No waiting for the front wheels to spin.

No snow or ice to check it, but on rain-slick roads it worked well, never allowing more than a blink's worth of wheelspin in front,
and it never seemed to suddenly cut power to the wheels in the kind of desperate attempt at control that some systems use.

•Classy touches. Ford nailed the execution of the dashboard, instrument panel and interior, except for the absurd rings around
the air vents. They are bright plastic, instead of chrome-plated metal, and they contribute nothing to function or esthetics and reflect
distractingly in the windows.

The optional leather upholstery has been upgraded.

•Roomy second row. Generous legroom back there, an attribute frequently compromised as automakers try to cram three rows
into SUVs. X is big enough for three comfortable rows of seats.

The second row slides fore and aft to help tailor the mix of people space and cargo room. The second row also lets riders adjust
the seat-back angle for comfort. And the second row has a higher seating position than some rivals, making it more comfy for adults.

The mechanism that folds the second-row seats to provide an aisle to the third row was awkward to operate on the regular-production
test car. Too much heaving and slamming required. At least the aisle it opens to the third row is wide enough for easy access.

In the third row, you must sit with your lower body swiveled slightly inward to find toe space.

The third row rotates backward and tucks quickly and easily under the floor to enlarge the cargo area.

Initially, X is a charmer. The elevated seating, good-looking dashboard, nearly perfect size and shape of the leathered steering
wheel put a grin on your face. And overall, it's easy to drive the X smoothly, a nice feature on days when you still have a ton of
schlepping to do and don't want any trouble from your car.

But don't sign that contract just yet. Watch out for:

•Front seats. Hard, lumpy and uncomfy enough to be a deal-breaker. Especially aggravating because Volvo seats are so good.

•Handling. Nice enough at poke-around speed, it quickly turns disturbing. If you hit an exit ramp too fast, or arrive at a corner
more briskly than intended, X exhibits a disquieting amount of body lean. It hangs on in the corner, but not gracefully or reassuringly.

Steering and brakes, the other elements of handling, seemed well tuned, neither touchy nor sloppy.

There are too many good crossover SUVs in that price range for Taurus X to be a clear winner.
Still, if the seats aren't a deal-breaker for your physique, X is worth a look.

ABOUT THE TAURUS X

•What is it? Full-size, six- or seven-passenger, four-door, crossover SUV available with front-wheel drive (FWD)
or all-wheel drive (AWD). Loosely based on XC90 crossover sold by Volvo, a Ford-owned brand.

•What's the drivetrain? 3.5-liter V-6 rated 263 horsepower at 6,250 rpm, 249 pounds-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm; six-speed
automatic transmission; traction control.

Optional AWD system sends nearly all power to front wheels until sensors detect front slip or anticipate need for rear-wheel traction,
as when accelerating hard.

•What's the safety gear? Expected front, side and three-row head-curtain air bags, anti-lock brakes, plus stability-control
and anti-rollover systems.

•What's the rest? Standard features include: climate control; AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input jack; power steering, brakes,
windows, locks, mirrors, driver's seat; rear-window and outside-mirror defrosters; tilt-adjustable steering column; cruise control.

•How big? Full-size; as long as a minivan. Taurus X is 200.3 inches long, 74.9 inches wide, 67.6 inches tall on a 112.9-inch wheelbase.

Weights are listed as 4,033 pounds (FWD) and 4,203 pounds (AWD). Passenger space is listed as 146.2 cubic feet.
Cargo space, in cubic feet, is listed as: 15.8 behind third row; 47 when third row is folded into floor; 85.5 when second and
third rows are folded. Rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Rated to carry 1,150 pounds. Turning circle diameter is 41 feet curb-to-curb.

•How thirsty? FWD is rated 16 miles per gallon in town, 24 on the highway, 19 in combined driving. AWD is 15/22/18.

Readings on trip computers in AWD test cars ranged from 12.6 mpg in savage-throttle suburban motoring to 15.2 mpg in
moderate suburban driving.

•Overall: Nice package; too bad about those front seats.